South Jersey Hospital System 333 Irving Ave. Bridgeton, NJ 08302
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VISIT www.SJHealthcare.net/FandF to receive a FREE GIFT! Numbers You Need to Know Total Cholesterol LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol goals vary. Less than 100 mg/dL 100 to 129 mg/dL 130 to 159 mg/dL 160 to 189 mg/dL 190 mg/dL and more
HDL ("Good") Cholesterol 50 mg/dL or more
pumps through your arteries. If this measurement is high, it could cause damage to your heart and other parts of your body. People should begin screenings at age 18. The results include two numbers. The top, or systolic number, measures the pressure as the heart beats, and the bottom, or diastolic number, measures pressure between heartbeats.
Blood pressure is the pressure at which your blood
Read about certain foods said to help lower bad cholesterol.
Normal Prehypertension High
< 120 systolic over < than 80 diastolic
120–139 systolic over 80–89 diastolic
140–159 systolic over 90–99 diastolic
Do you know your numbers? Visit www.SJHealthcare.net/FandF to find a physician. Optimal
Near optimal Borderline high High
Very high
From paying your bills on time to balancing your checkbook, numbers are a regular part of life. However, are you paying attention to numbers that could significantly impact your health?
recommended to begin by age 20, but new guidelines suggest initial screenings should take place between ages 9 and 11 (See "Starting Screenings Earlier" for more information).
Blood cholesterol can determine your risk for heart disease. Traditionally, screenings were
Starting Screenings Earlier
In the past, it was recommended people undergo cholesterol screenings by age 20. However, as heart disease has remained the leading killer of men and women in America, new guidelines have been established by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to initiate screenings between ages 9 and 11. Samuel Gidding, M.D., pediatric cardiologist at South Jersey Healthcare and Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, along with other medical experts across the country, helped develop these new guidelines. By testing earlier, pediatricians can pinpoint problems and risks for heart disease before they have a lasting effect on children's health. If risks are present, children and their parents are typically encouraged to modify their diets and increase exercise to improve overall health.
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Awareness
